Interpreting Normal Distributions

Interpreting Normal Distributions

(Required) Create and post a response that fully answers one of the 10 questions below (no later than Wednesday)

(Required) Create and post a response that fully answers a different one of the 10 questions below (on a different day)

(Required) Post one quality response to another classmates’ “main” post or to a professor post (by the end of the week).

(Required) The posts must be submitted on at least 3 different days.

(Optional) Additional posts and/or days of participation are not required, but are certainly welcome!

NOTE: Always paste the question itself (and its number) above your answer (or enough of it, when it’s a really long question, to make it clear which one you are addressing).

For full posting guidelines, review the Real World Discussions: Requirements page.

1. Estimated versus Actual 1

1. Using these 20 data points from a normal distribution, find their μ and σ.  Then find P(x<20).  Compare that probability with the percent of the 20 data points that are below 20.

22.1    30.9    18.6    34.7    15.3    37.1    40.8    33.9    40.8    18.1    15.1    32.6    30.3    28.3    28.3    23.1    28.4    20.7    25.1    22.1  

2. Estimated versus Actual 2

2. Using these 20 data points from a normal distribution, find their μ and σ.  Then find P(20<x<35).  Compare that probability with the percent of the 20 data points that are between 20 and 35.

22.1    30.9    18.6    34.7    15.3    37.1    40.8    33.9    40.8    18.1    15.1    32.6    30.3    28.3    28.3    23.1    28.4    20.7    25.1    22.1  

3. Daily Life Variable – Normal Distribution

3. Give an example of a normally distributed variable that is found within your daily life.  Describe why it is a normally distributed variable.

4. Daily Life Variable – Right Skewed

4. Give an example of a variable with a right skewed distribution that is found within your daily life.  Describe why it has a right skewed distribution.

5. Daily Life Variable – Left Skewed

5. Give an example of a variable with a left skewed distribution that is found within your daily life.  Describe why it has a left skewed distribution.

6. Discrete or Continuous? …Students

6. Describe why each of these variables is either discrete or continuous:  Number of students in a live lesson and the length of the live lesson

7. Discrete or Continuous? …Lettuce

7. Describe why each of these variables is either discrete or continuous:  Amount of lettuce taken from salad bar and number of customers in store.

8. Discrete or Continuous? …Paint Cans

8. Describe why each of these variables is either discrete or continuous:  Paint cans sold and paint used to cover walls.

9. Discrete or Continuous? …Milk & Cookies

9. Describe why each of these variables is either discrete or continuous: Milk spilled and cookies dropped

10. Ethics! (Does .5+.5 = 1?)

10.  Ethics:  Consider a manufacturing company that is counting the number of products completed.  Consider that there were two products that were both half done and the company included the two halves as one additional completion in its count of products completed.  What would be your argument for or against this presentation?